"It seems like we've been waiting a long time for this moment," said Admirals Vice President Joe Gregory. "The anticipation began after the playoffs ended last April and accelerated last month when the Tampa Bay Lightning made several key free agent signings. Our front office has been busy at work this summer planning for the 2011-12 season. We hope our fans will join us in counting down the 50 days until the puck drops on what's sure to be an exciting season of Admirals hockey."

Five of the Admirals' first six games will be played at Norfolk Scope Arena. After that stretch, the team plays 11 of its next 12 games on the road from October 23 through November 19 – including a season-long seven-game road trip from October 23 – November 6. Norfolk will play its first regular season games against the AHL's newest team, the St. John's IceCaps, in Newfoundland on November 18-19. At no other point during the season do the Admirals have a road trip totaling more than four games.

The Admirals have three homestands totaling five or more games in 2011-12 with the first such stretch from November 23 – December 3. The Providence Bruins, top affiliate of the defending Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins, return to Scope for the first time since the 2008-09 season on the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving (November 25-26).

The Admirals conclude the home portion of the 2011-12 regular season with a season-long seven-game homestand from March 23 – April 7. Included in that stretch is St. John's first trip to Scope on March 28 and 30 and the regular season home finale against the defending Calder Cup Champion Binghamton Senators on April 6-7. The 2011-12 regular season schedule concludes in Adirondack on April 15.

The monthly schedule breaks down as follows (home/road): October (5/5), November (5/7), December (5/6), January (8/4), February (5/8), March (7/5), April (3/3). The home schedule features 16 Friday games, 12 Saturday games, six Wednesday games and four Tuesday games. As with last season, Friday home games will start at 7:30 p.m. All other home games will begin at 7:15 p.m.

All 76 Admirals regular season games plus the playoffs will be broadcast live on "The Game" 102.1-FM and 1490-AM. Free streaming audio will be available online at www.1021TheGame.com. You may also watch all Admirals games online on a pay-per-view basis through AHL Live at www.ahllive.com.

The 2011-12 season marks the twenty-third campaign of Admirals hockey, the twelfth as a member of the American Hockey League and the fifth as top minor league affiliate of the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning.